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You are here: Home / Kitty Wisdom / Friday Feature: Okey’s Promise

Friday Feature: Okey’s Promise

January 21, 2011 By: Sparkle Cat22 Comments

I am putting on my serious face again!I’ve heard many humans say that there is a strong connection between animal and human abuse. While that makes sense, I am not the kind of cat who just spouts off anything I read in a Facebook comment or forum post as if it’s the complete truth. A quick Google search led me to the Pet-Abuse.com site, which quotes a 1997 study done by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University. It found that “animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people.” I found additional information at the Clinton County SPCA that tied animal cruelty and cruelty to women and children over and over again. So you can rest assured that none of us are making this up: animal and human violence are closely related.

One human who knows more about this than you might expect is BZTAT, the Canton, OH-based artist who is known for her colorful animal paintings and murals, and whose work is familiar to those in the pet-blogging community. She is also a mental health counselor who has been an advocate for children for over 19 years. So when she decided to use her artistic talents as a way to bring awareness to the issue of animal and child abuse, it was really no surprise. She has seen firsthand how art can bring discussion, healing and awareness to important social concerns. That is why she has begun the project called Okey’s Promise.

This is not Boodie cruelty, honest!Okey is a sweet little cat that BZTAT rescued from the streets, whose behavior led BZTAT to believe that she came from a situation where she may have been abused. This is something I understand myself, since my human believes the same thing may have happened to my roommate Boodie. It took a long time to socialize this shy, fearful cat. Even though Boodie has never been treated with anything but kindness since my human brought her home in 2002, she still cringes when someone reaches over to pet her. To honor Okey, and those like her, BZTAT named this new project after her.

Currently, BZTAT is funding her first Okey’s Promise project — a large mural to be put up in the Canton Arts District — through Kickstarter.com, a funding platform for creative projects (a little aside: one of my human’s boyfriend’s bands raised money for their latest album through Kickstarter last year). But right now, she is falling short of her $5,000 goal. Kickstarter will only release the funds for projects if the goal is met. If it is not, then the money is returned. BZTAT only has 6 more days to raise nearly $1000, and I am hoping you will help her! In fact, I have a proposal for you: the first person to give $50 or more to Okey’s Promise Kickstarter page after my blog post goes live will also get a copy of my latest book, personally pawtographed by me! BZTAT does not even know I am offering this yet… because I thought of doing it just now!

I really believe in this project! Canton is only the start — BZTAT wants to put up murals and raise awareness about animal and child cruelty in 6 different cities this year! Let’s help her get Okey’s Promise off to a great start!

Find out more about Okey’s Promise and Kickstarter here.

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Comments

  1. George Clooney says

    January 22, 2011 at 12:17 am

    Sparkle, thanks for posting about BZTAT and her Okey’s Promise project. What a great cause and we hope they will reach their goal.

    Reply
  2. Spitty-the-Kitty says

    January 21, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    This is a wonderful project and the Human wishes she had more green papers right now. She hopes that it all works out!
    The Human wants to believe that people who abuse animals will get what’s coming to them one day. They are the lowest of the low.

    Reply
  3. Ayla and Iza says

    January 21, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    The Big Thing here – I’ve read enough serious studies about animal/human abuse to not have had any doubts. I wish the best to this project.

    Reply
  4. Pricilla says

    January 21, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    How wonderful of you Sparkle.
    Stinky the Farm cat was abused too. It is very sad

    Reply
  5. Angie, Catladyland/Katt Food says

    January 21, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    This is just wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing BZTAT’s beautiful and thoughtful work.

    Reply
  6. Abby says

    January 21, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    Sparkle
    We thank you for this posting.
    Excellent work by BZTAT.

    purrin
    xoxox
    ♥♥♥

    Reply
  7. Carol's Critter Corner says

    January 21, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    She does do beautiful artwork and I hope she gets to her goal so she will be able to help other less fortunate kitties, puppies and other animals. Great post Sparkle.

    Reply
  8. Bunny Jean Cook says

    January 21, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    fank u for sharing Sparkle. mai hooman is also supporting Okey’s Promise! xoxo

    Reply
  9. meowmeowmans says

    January 21, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    Excellent post. I, too, believe there is a connection between animal and human abuse. Okey’s Promise sounds awesome.

    Reply
  10. BZTAT says

    January 21, 2011 at 11:42 am

    Wow, Sparkle! Thanks so much for the fabulous blogpost and the offer of giving away one of your books! Let me know the exact time that you went live and I will be happy to give you the name of the first $50 or more pledge after that time. Thanks to all your readers and friends for being the passion behind Okey’s Promise!

    BZTAT

    Reply
  11. mariodacat says

    January 21, 2011 at 11:24 am

    Excellent post for a very worthy cause.

    Reply
  12. JB says

    January 21, 2011 at 11:11 am

    Yes, there definitely is a connection with animal and human abuse fur sure. This sounds like a great project, and we think Okey is gorgeous!
    –JB

    Reply
  13. BeadedTail says

    January 21, 2011 at 9:32 am

    This is a very important subject Sparkle and it’s wonderful awareness is being raised. We have heard of the link between animal and child cruelty before and know that many shelters offer to take in the pets of women and kids who leave abusive homes because otherwise many stay to avoid their animals being abused if they leave them behind. It’s just a horrible cycle of abuse and we’ll check out your link to see what we can do to help!

    PeeS: Our mommy is very impressed with your human getting her tax stuff in to her accountant already! She wishes more people were like your human (in more ways than one)!

    Reply
  14. CatFromHell says

    January 21, 2011 at 8:40 am

    Such a Good topic Sparkle! Me came from an abusive home before my Mommy and Daddy gots me. Me has some behavior issues – which is why me is the Cat From Hell.
    Thank yous for writing about this and the people who is working for it!
    Nellie

    Reply
  15. Cheysuli says

    January 21, 2011 at 8:33 am

    Okay, we are writing this down on our list to help out-

    Reply
  16. Fuzzy and Zoe says

    January 21, 2011 at 6:25 am

    Miss Sparkle, if this is a cause and person you support, then we trust it’s a good one. We stole our mom’s credit card and pledged!

    Reply
  17. Brian says

    January 21, 2011 at 6:21 am

    BZTAT is an inspiration fur sure, we met her at Bark World Expo in Atlanta last year. Okey’s Promise is such a wonderful mission.

    Reply
  18. The Poupounette Gang says

    January 21, 2011 at 3:56 am

    We are convinced you are right when it comes to abuse. When I was a child, there used to be a saying that you could tell what kind of a person someone was by looking at how they treated their animals and/or their servants. Someone who hits an animal will also hit a person, and vice versa.

    Reply
  19. Marg says

    January 21, 2011 at 3:41 am

    That is a very interesting subject. When you hear about someone killing people, usually there is a blip about how that person used to kill cats or dogs. So I believe they are related. I hope she gets her money raised. Take care and have a super week end.

    Reply
  20. Max the Quilt Cat says

    January 21, 2011 at 3:33 am

    Great post today. Yes, I’ve never trusted anyone who is cruel to animals. It’s a great thing that BZTAT is collaborating to help this project.

    Have a great weekend.

    pawhugs, Max

    Reply
  21. Fisher says

    January 21, 2011 at 2:09 am

    Art and cats – a wonderful combination for the success of Okey’s Promise.

    Reply
  22. we love LUNA says

    January 21, 2011 at 1:20 am

    So important subject today!
    All good luck for this interesting project!
    purrs and happy weekend
    Luna

    Reply

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